Once again we took to the
road in 2018 in search of operating steam.
2018 marked the 9th year of
operation for Southern Railway 2-8-0 #401 at the Monticello Railway Museum in
Monticello, Illinois. In May, Southern
Rail Productions chartered #401 and a period mixed train for a day long photo
train. We present some highlights from this charter, as well as some views of
the locomotive in operation during September’s annual Railroad Days.
Then we move on to Iowa,
where Iowa Interstate‘s QJ class 2-10-2 #6988 returned to action for the first
time in many years. The locomotive
handled ten short trips over two day, running at mainline speeds. We covered all ten trips, along with deadhead
moves.
Next we head to North
Carolina for a look at Great Smoky Mountains Railroad 2-8-0 #1702. Cool and wet weather made for a dramatic show
of smoke steam as the locomotive handled trains along the Tuckasegee River.
We wrap up the program at the
Tennessee Valley Railroad, where we caught both Southern Railway 2-8-2 #4501
and 2-8-0 #630. #4501 ran solo on
Saturday, and cool and damp weather resulted in many slips caught on
camera. The Sunday found plenty of
sunshine, and a doubleheader with #630 leading #4501.
